Early Admission (MM/EMH/APEE) Super Thread

[DizFan13]

ArianaDream, yes you will be allowed into the park one hour early if you have early entry on your ticket. When you arrive a the turnstiles, some of them will be marked "Magic Morning" instead of Enter. However, you want to arrive earlier than the time when the extra hour begins, by at least a half hour. Also, the MM is a one time use feature included with your pass, so once it is used, when a CM scans your ticket at entry they will be able to tell that the option is no longer valid.

 

[DizFan13]

I am looking for recommendations from those of you who really understand this whole APEE business. We will have five mornings during which the entire family can enter the park first thing in the morning: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, and Fri. Friday is the day we leave. I have two questions; based on those days, which morning would you guys recommend that we register for APEE into DL and which into DCA? Also, we were planning to upgrade DS17's six-day hopper when we arrive, but do we need to do that in advance in order to register for the early entry? Our dates are July 20-27, so I am guessing that both parks will be opening at 8:00 each day, although the hours aren't posted yet.

 

[ArianaDream]

ArianaDream, yes you will be allowed into the park one hour early if you have early entry on your ticket. When you arrive a the turnstiles, some of them will be marked "Magic Morning" instead of Enter. However, you want to arrive earlier than the time when the extra hour begins, by at least a half hour. Also, the MM is a one time use feature included with your pass, so once it is used, when a CM scans your ticket at entry they will be able to tell that the option is no longer valid.

Thank you, that info is a big help! I'll make sure to plan ahead and get there early on whichever day we choose.

 

[DLR29]

I am looking for recommendations from those of you who really understand this whole APEE business. We will have five mornings during which the entire family can enter the park first thing in the morning: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, and Fri. Friday is the day we leave. I have two questions; based on those days, which morning would you guys recommend that we register for APEE into DL and which into DCA? Also, we were planning to upgrade DS17's six-day hopper when we arrive, but do we need to do that in advance in order to register for the early entry? Our dates are July 20-27, so I am guessing that both parks will be opening at 8:00 each day, although the hours aren't posted yet.

Although we're still not sure how APEE will work or affect crowd levels or whatever, I would still stick with classic Early Admission advice. I would register for APEE for as early as possible during your trip, the logic being that the later on it is during your trip the harder it'll be to wake up that early. So that would mean, for you DCA APEE on either Sat or Sun and DL APEE on the Monday.

You won't need to upgrade that one park hopper prior to registering because you can have 1 person register for your entire party. Just as long as he has his valid AP when you check in on the APEE days, you'll be good.

Just curious, did you guys decide on a DAP or a PAP for him?

 

[KCmike]

We have five day park hoppers but staying offsite. If we add a day we don't get another magic morning do we?

 

[DLR29]

UPDATE: Disney has confirmed EVERYTHING in the OP. In fact, their new page on their website looks a lot like the one that I posted a while ago...
And also to confirm, DCA will not be having regular MM with 3+ day PHs.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/early-admission/

 

[DLR29]

We have five day park hoppers but staying offsite. If we add a day we don't get another magic morning do we?

No, unfortunately, it's not 1 MM per 3 days, but rather 1 MM for 3 or more days.

 

[ArchOwl]

UPDATE: Disney has confirmed EVERYTHING in the OP. In fact, their new page on their website looks a lot like the one that I posted a while ago...
And also to confirm, DCA will not be having regular MM with 3+ day PHs.

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendar/early-admission/

Hey, that does look familiar! Maybe an intern took a shortcut!

 

[disneychrista]

You won't need to upgrade that one park hopper prior to registering because you can have 1 person register for your entire party. Just as long as he has his valid AP when you check in on the APEE days, you'll be good.

You need the AP #s & DOB for all persons you are registering for APEE.

 

[DLR29]

You need the AP #s & DOB for all persons you are registering for APEE.

Whoops. My bad. I guess then you will have to upgrade earlier. Adding this to the OP.

 

[DizFan13]

Although we're still not sure how APEE will work or affect crowd levels or whatever, I would still stick with classic Early Admission advice. I would register for APEE for as early as possible during your trip, the logic being that the later on it is during your trip the harder it'll be to wake up that early. So that would mean, for you DCA APEE on either Sat or Sun and DL APEE on the Monday.

You won't need to upgrade that one park hopper prior to registering because you can have 1 person register for your entire party. Just as long as he has his valid AP when you check in on the APEE days, you'll be good.

Just curious, did you guys decide on a DAP or a PAP for him?

I like the idea of using the APEEs early on in the trip. Also, thanks for clarifying about the registration process; I didn't realize that only one person needs to register. That makes things much easier.

Once we decided to upgrade DS's pass sooner rather than later and did some basic math, we are going with the PAP. Your advice was quite helpful; as a college student, Saturdays may very well be the best opportunities for him to visit DLR, meaning that having many of those days blocked would be a pain. Plus, the free parking and other discounts will make a big difference over the course of the year.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I like the idea of using the APEEs early on in the trip. Also, thanks for clarifying about the registration process; I didn't realize that only one person needs to register. That makes things much easier.

Once we decided to upgrade DS's pass sooner rather than later and did some basic math, we are going with the PAP. Your advice was quite helpful; as a college student, Saturdays may very well be the best opportunities for him to visit DLR, meaning that having many of those days blocked would be a pain. Plus, the free parking and other discounts will make a big difference over the course of the year.

As DisneyChrista already noted, you won't be able to register your son for APEE until you arrive and upgrade. Then, you may have to wait a day, then book for a date at least 3 days in the future. If you upgrade on Saturday, the earliest DCA APEE you can register him for may be Thursday, which I know you said was not a day you planned to visit the parks.

Any chance you can go to the parks earlier to upgrade your son? -- Suzanne

 

[Stinkerbell317]

Thank goodness for this thread!!!!!

We are making our very first visit to DL July 8-10! We are staying at the Grand Cali Villas and are sooooo excited! But I am charged with figuring out all the touring details. Everything's so different from WDW!

I understand that as GCV guests we will be able to get into at least DL early on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. I'm waiting to see about DCA early hours. But here's my major question for now:

We are checking into GCV on Sunday (presumably the room won't be ready until 3pm.) But we want to do the DL MM hour on that Sunday, how do we show proof of being resort guests if we don't have our room key yet?

 

[Hound 109]

Comments below:

Thank goodness for this thread!!!!!

We are making our very first visit to DL July 8-10! We are staying at the Grand Cali Villas and are sooooo excited! But I am charged with figuring out all the touring details. Everything's so different from WDW!

You'll have a blast!

I understand that as GCV guests we will be able to get into at least DL early on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. I'm waiting to see about DCA early hours. But here's my major question for now:

You'll be able to enjoy DCA early hour (for hotel guests) on MWF.

We are checking into GCV on Sunday (presumably the room won't be ready until 3pm.) But we want to do the DL MM hour on that Sunday, how do we show proof of being resort guests if we don't have our room key yet?

Yes you can enjoy MM on day of check in. (I've done it 3 times) You'll need to check in/ or go to the front desk (probably before 6am would be best) even though the room isn't ready.....& they'll go over the benefits & give you your passes.

 

[minniecarousel]

Thank goodness for this thread!!!!!

We are making our very first visit to DL July 8-10! We are staying at the Grand Cali Villas and are sooooo excited! But I am charged with figuring out all the touring details. Everything's so different from WDW!

I understand that as GCV guests we will be able to get into at least DL early on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. I'm waiting to see about DCA early hours. But here's my major question for now:

We are checking into GCV on Sunday (presumably the room won't be ready until 3pm.) But we want to do the DL MM hour on that Sunday, how do we show proof of being resort guests if we don't have our room key yet?

I believe that you can check in very early - they give you a room key and they will text you after 3 PM with the room number. You can certainly call and ask that question. We always check in around 1 PM and they give us our room key-cards and we get the text later. I don't know why it wouldn't work when checking in at 6 - 6:30 AM.

 

[suzcruz]

question: the disneyland website appears to show early admission every day for both parks during the week of june 18, do you think this is correct?

 

[DizFan13]

As DisneyChrista already noted, you won't be able to register your son for APEE until you arrive and upgrade. Then, you may have to wait a day, then book for a date at least 3 days in the future. If you upgrade on Saturday, the earliest DCA APEE you can register him for may be Thursday, which I know you said was not a day you planned to visit the parks.

Any chance you can go to the parks earlier to upgrade your son? -- Suzanne

I am really struggling to figure out what to do now. We won't be in California until 7/20, so there is really no way to upgrade his PH ahead of time, right? So, if we want to plan any APEE for DCA, will I have to buy an AP and just figure out a way to use the six-day PH before it expires at the end of the year? I'd hate to shell out the cost for a PAP in addition to having already purchased the PH.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I am really struggling to figure out what to do now. We won't be in California until 7/20, so there is really no way to upgrade his PH ahead of time, right? So, if we want to plan any APEE for DCA, will I have to buy an AP and just figure out a way to use the six-day PH before it expires at the end of the year? I'd hate to shell out the cost for a PAP in addition to having already purchased the PH.

It's not going to help you to buy an AP in advance either. An AP has to be activated at the gate or ticket booth. If you were to buy an AP right now, you would only be buying a voucher that you will exchange for the actual AP. You cannot register for early entry until your AP is active (a voucher will not suffice), and you need to be there in person to activate.

 

[DLR29]

question: the disneyland website appears to show early admission every day for both parks during the week of june 18, do you think this is correct?

Yes this is correct.

Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: MM and EMH at DL, APEE at DCA
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: EMH at DCA, APEE at DL

 

[GuardMusic]

I heard (a rumor) you could also get into the park early if you eat breakfast at a DL Resort Hotel and show your receipt at the gate. Is that/was that ever true?